[Linux-aus] Organizing an Australian Open Source Roadshow?

[Arjen Lentz]

Hi Jeff, Michael,

On Thu, 2004-01-29 at 11:44, Jeff Waugh wrote:
> >> Very soon, a national organisation [think One Ring to Rule Them All] is
> >> coming about with business members from all over Australia. Although I
> >> can't talk for them, this type of thing sounds like something that we
> >> would certainly consider very seriously.
> >
> > Just what we need - *another* organisation in the FOSS space in Australia
> > trying to be the voice to the outside world! :-(
> >
> > "You are in a maze of twisty organisations, all alike".

David may need to read up on his Lord of the Rings, the analogy is all
wrong ;-)
See below.


> Mmmm. I really hope that such a group would be part of, or at the very
> least, strongly affiliated with Linux Australia. Rather than being
> entirely separate, it could simply be another face of the same
> organisation (and a thriving part of the general community that Linux
> Australia represents).
> A largely independent sub-committee of Linux Australia would be an
> excellent venue for this.

It is intended that the new industry org will complement, rather than
compete with, existing organisations such as Linux Australia and AUUG.
And indeed there should be very close cooperation. The group working on
it is keeping LA committee members informed, and same goes for AUUG.

While I like your other idea in principle, I'm not certain that that can
be done at this point. The reasons for this would probably go along
similar lines to the "LA+AUUG merger" discussion. While there is no
fundamental disagreement, there is a slightly different focus (can be
dealt with), but more importantly (to the people talking about it!) a
different feeling. And that's way more tricky.

Given that situation, I'd rather see an extra organisation that works
(very) closely with the others, rather than integrating and finding that
many of the target group don't want to be part of it. That would be a
loss to the cause.

Regards,
Arjen.
-- 
Arjen Lentz, Technical Writer, Trainer
Brisbane, QLD Australia
MySQL AB, www.mysql.com

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